What is Art Therapy?
Art therapy refers to the use of visual arts (drawing, painting, sculpture, and others forms of art) and creativity in the process of therapy. This technique is used to improve mental health and psychological distress, and physical and emotional well-being. Art therapy enables individuals to develop the organization of their psychological and intellectual authority. In this process, art is not just a tool, but it is therapy itself.
Who Can Benefit from Art Therapy?
Anyone! At any age!
Art therapy is used to reduce the symptoms of conditions such as anxiety, depression, substance abuse and other addictions, family and relationship issues, anger and aggressive behaviour, domestic violence, social and emotional difficulties related to disability and illness, communication difficulties, trauma, loss, physical, cognitive, and neurological problems, psychosocial difficulties related to medical illnesses such as cancer.
To find out if you can benefit from art therapy, do not hesitate to contact us for more information.
About Art Therapist
As an art therapist, I provide therapy services for children with special needs (Autism, Down Syndrome, vision/hearing impaired, developmental disabilities, etc), as well as children, adolescents, adults, and seniors in Montreal, Laval, West Island, Lasalle, Lachine, and Brossard.
With art therapy, I help the clients re-establish connection with their creative minds to cope with their issues in a healthier way, find creative solutions for their problems, and become their own creative therapists. Moreover, with years of experience, I have witnessed the benefits of art therapy in increasing the well-being of normal kids with special needs, their parents, and their families.
Child Psychology and Art Therapy
If you are looking for a child psychologist for your kid, you may consider art therapy beforehand. An art therapist, specialized in working with children, can help your kid re-experience his/her daily problems and issues through the help of art activities, play, story-telling, role-play with poppets, etc. In most of the cases, your kid does not require to be diagnosed but needs to be given the time and space to explore his/her world, experiences, memories, fears, anxieties, and disabilities in a safe place and with her/his own pace.
Although an art therapist is not entitled to diagnose, she is competent in working with your kid to discharge his/her fears, anxieties, sadness, depression, identity issues, anger issues, frustrations and disappointments. Therefore, in a more than relaxed space with no pressure of being labeled, the kid has enough time to process and explore self.
Support Group Therapy
We offer group therapy for children with cancer, families of children with cancer, children with behavioral problems, children of divorce, and children with anger. Our therapists also offer supportive group therapy for women during pregnancy and post pregnancy, adults with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), grief and bereavement, and anger management.
Therapy for Children with Special Needs
Children with Intellectual Disabilities, Autism Spectrum Disorders, and Down Syndrome can benefit from art therapy sessions to improve communication skills and enhance interpersonal interactions. With emphasis on expanding creativity and developing spontaneity, the therapist helps children and adolescents with special needs to develop and increase self-esteem and self-confidence, and decrease social inhibition and anxiety.
Family Related
Our therapists work with family issues such as parent/child relationship, divorce, illness, loss, sibling conflicts, peer pressure, teen issues, trauma, and abuse (emotional, verbal, sexual).